So....I did it. I qualified for dual citizenship through ancestors and I decided to go ahead with the process. I wrote my initial letter to the Houston Consulate with my ancestral information and they approved my application. They have given me the approval to go ahead with my procuring of the necessary documents. I have already gotten most of what I need from the US and only need one document from Italy. After I submit all that......the wait begins......

Anyone else try this yet? Just wondering how the process has been going. Nuccia, I know you have started too?

Yeah, time is the thing.... it takes so long.
I don't know how it works in Canada, but I guess I am lucky living in Houston. Houston does not require any of the documents to be translated. Riccardo is going to help me get my GGF's birth act, but I guess that's about it. The consulate helped me with everything else. The Consular Affairs officer told me what to write in my inital letter and what info she needed. When I sent that, she approved my application then sent me the exact guidelines to follow to apply. No translations, so I need to send in copies of the docs then when my docs all have the approval, I need to send in the originals with the apostille.

It's really a very simple process. The only thing is it takes a LONG time. The only wrench in the works is that I need New York City to write a letter saying that Ignazio Carmeloni and Carmeloni Ignazio are the same people and have it notarized. THAT could take a while!

Well, I guess I should join this parade since I'm sure I qualify. I have the Italian documents I'll need--certified birth acts for my paternal grandparents from their comunes--and it shouldn't take much to obtain the US documents I need for them, my parents and myself. Toughest document might be my grandfather's naturalization papers or lack thereof. He consistently stated he was naturalized in 1918 but there were no papers with his other effects.

The one problem I do see is the name change from Epifano to Bifano and somehow proving that Giuseppe Epifano and Joseph Bifano were one and the same person. Likewise my grandmother whose name was Fenicia used Fannie for all her signed papers. Hard to believe but it wasn't until a couple of months ago that I was able to determine her birth name was Fenicia after I received a copy of her birth extract.

I'll start the process after granddaughter to be Isabelle makes her appearance and things settle down.

One quick question for you. Should I qualify and obtain citizenship, would it be relatively easy for my son and granddaughter Angelina to obtain citiznship also??

Best,
Biff

_________________"There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children - one is roots, and the other, wings." -- Hodding S. Carter

Hi Biff, I had a lengthy conversation with the Houston Consulate. What they told me is that once I become a citizen, my father will automatically because I am qualifying that line. They told me my husband will be able to apply based on being my spouse (which is good because we would never be able to obtain the documents for him). It will be easy for your son too, as you will be a citizen and won't renounce.

As for the name changes - well that was the first question I asked before I wasted my time. They told me that the name changes are actually very common. If it's a first name, like your Fannie, it doesn't matter. If it's a surname, like your Epifano to Bifano, then a notarized letter is needed saying that the person is one and the same. As soon as I find out who needs to write and notarize that letter, I will tell you.

Thanks, Gina, your answer has given me even more of an incentive to obtain my citizenship since my children, their spouses and children, and my wife would likewise qualify after I go through the process. My wife was interested in pursuing citizenship through her parents' lines but she didn't qualify. She's going to really be after me once I let her know your answer.

Best.
Biff

_________________"There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children - one is roots, and the other, wings." -- Hodding S. Carter

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